Tangled in Moonlight: Unshifted novel Chapter 425

The others who came with the Grand Sage seem to understand the horrors this dream-eater brings. "Do they know about dream-eaters?" I ask the Magister, who glances behind him.

They all shake their heads, but they still look horrified.

One steps forward. Vaguely familiar. Red hair. Super long, pointy ears. Weirdly wearing what looks like clothes you would buy out of any sort of outdoorsy sports store, not stuff people wear in the Fae Ward. Seeing a giant, fur-lined winter coat, jeans, and boots on a Fae definitely feels weird.

"Mistress Ava—"

The snarls ripple through the air before I even process what happened. My people bare their teeth, chests out and eyes dark, metaphorical hackles raised at the red-haired Fae's words. My stomach drops at the sudden hostility.

Magister Orion steps between his companion and the wolves, his voice booming. "Why such aggression to one of mine, wolf?"

"She is our Luna," Kellan says, his words frigid. "She is no mistress."

Their dramatic overreaction would be amusing, if it didn't ratchet the tension in this tent by a factor of two hundred or so.

Males, Selene says with a sigh, even as Magister Orion inclines his head.

The gesture is diplomatic, and he spreads his hands wide. "My deepest apologies for our oversight. We meant no disrespect to your Luna."

Some of the tension bleeds from Kellan's shoulders, though his eyes remain sharp. The others relax their stances, though too many of them are still frowning.

Magister Orion turns to the red-haired Fae, whose delicate features make it impossible to determine their gender. They're all so pretty. "You must understand—among wolves, titles and rank carry great weight. Luna Ava rules beside her mate as an equal partner. She is not my student here, but a leader of her people. We must show proper respect."

The Fae listens carefully, their blue eyes wide as they bounce around from person to person. I know the feeling. It's more than just disconcerting when a bunch of wolves start growling at you.

Though, maybe less terrifying for a Fae than a human-like person.

Magister Orion faces Kellan again. "Please understand that 'Mistress' is a standard term of respect in Fae culture. There are no… implications your people might associate with such a title."

The growls finally cease. I clear my throat, eager to move past this cultural misunderstanding before it can fester. Besides, if my wolves weren't being so suspicious of and mildly hostile toward the Fae, they probably would have never noticed the form of address.

"What's your name?" I ask the red-haired Fae. "You were about to tell us something?"

The red-haired Fae twists their fingers together, eyes darting between me and Kellan. "I am called Heize, Lu- Luna Ava."

They glance toward Kellan after stumbling over my title. His expression never changes; just an imposing stare on his impassive face.

Kellan's perfected that look over years of being Beta, and he wields it like a weapon. Lucas, too.

"We don't know of dream-eaters specifically." Heize's musical voice wavers as they keep glancing at Kellan and the others. "But that thing—" They point toward the unconscious figure. "It radiates with malicious intent. Any Fae can sense it. If I were to explain it in human terms, it feels evil."

"How can you sense this?" Kellan asks, no longer sounding quite so interrogative. Just curious. _{freeωebnovēl.c૦m}